FARUKH SHEHZAD

• Underline need for a two-state solution

• Palestinian FM rebukes US, other powers for defending Israel

UNITED NATIONS, MAY 17: All members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), who participated in an emergency meeting on the situation in Palestine on Sunday, urged Israel not to make demographic and territorial changes in the occupied territory and immediately cease its hostilities.

The UNSC members also underlined the need for a two-state solution, with Palestinians having an independent state with internationally recognised borders.

“What has happened proves once again that an enduring settlement can only be achieved on the basis of the two-state solution,” said Foreign Minister Wang Yi of China, which holds the council’s rotating presidency for the month of May.

All members also urged Hamas to immediately stop rocket attacks into Israel, reminding both sides that nothing could justify targeting civilians.

This was the 3rd Security Council meeting on Palestine convened this week. On Wednesday, the United States blocked the council from issuing a statement that expressed “deep concern over the latest situation in Gaza and called for an immediate cessation of hostilities”.

Mr Wang chaired the debate, which showed a growing alarm at the possibility of this conflict turning into an all-out war in the region. “We urge Israel to honestly fulfil its obligations under international law, promptly and fully lift the blockade on and besiege of Gaza and guarantee the security and rights of the civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,” he said.

The Security Council, Mr Wang said, shouldered the primary responsibility for safeguarding international peace and security. But “regrettably, simply because of the obstruction by one country, the council hasn’t been able to speak with one voice”, said the chief Chinese delegate, taking a dig at the US for blocking resolutions condemning Israel.

Reminding the world body that it needs to resolve the Palestinian issues now, Mr Wang said: “Justice is already running late, but it must not be forever absent.”

UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who was the first of nearly two dozen speakers, warned that the latest round of violence “only perpetuates the cycles of death, destruction and despair, and pushes farther to the horizon any hopes of coexistence and peace”.

Appealing to all parties to heed his call for peace, Mr Guterres said: “Fighting must stop. It must stop immediately.”

Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad Al Maliki used the meeting to vent his community’s longstanding grievances, reminding the world that Israel has always been allowed to get away excesses and atrocities it committed against the people of Palestine. He implicitly rebuked the United States and other powers for defending Israel, which “further emboldened it to continue murdering entire families in their sleep”.

Gilad Erdan, Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations, who spoke after Mr Maliki, blamed Palestinians for attacking Israeli citizens.

Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the US Ambassador to the United Nations, said President Joe Biden had spoken with Israeli and Palestinian leaders, while Secretary of State Antony Blinken had also been engaging with his counterparts in the region. She called on Hamas to stop its rocket-barrage against Israel, expressed concern over inter-communal violence and warned against incitement on both sides.

“The human toll of this past week has been devastating,” she said, adding: “It’s time to end the cycle of violence.”

Riad Al Maliki thanked China for convening this meeting, saying: “No words can describe the horrors our people are enduring. Entire families being killed, including children as young as five and pregnant women.” Israel, he said, was working on a deliberate plan to uproot Palestinians from Jerusalem and kill them in Gaza, one family at a time.

He urged the UN members to ponder over two questions: what are Palestinians entitled to do to defend themselves? Should their actions be seen as self-defence, or terrorism?

Mr Maliki also urged the international community to decide how they were going to stop the Israeli aggression: sanctions, military intervention, further talks or by doing nothing. “Israel keeps telling you to put yourselves in their shoes, but they are not wearing shoes, they are wearing military boots,” he said.

Talking about the eviction of Palestinian families from their homes, Mr Maliki asked: “How can real estate agents steal what does not belong to them?”

The Israeli envoy, however, claimed that property dispute in Sheikh Jarrah did not cause the Hamas retaliation, it’s a political design, representing “internal Palestinian political maneuverings. Israel, he said, had decided to “stop the aggression once and for all”.

The Norwegian foreign minister noted that the situation in the region had deteriorated significantly and risked further escalation. “As long as there is no peace, no two-state solution, there will be no lasting peace,” warned the chief Norwegian diplomat.

Ireland also participated in the debate, underlining the need for “proportionality, and accountability for the actions of the Israeli security forces”.

Both Norway and Ireland condemned the Israeli attack on the media tower, calling it an attack on press freedom. Both also called for an end to the expansion of illegal settlements and eviction of Palestinians.

“Unacknowledged grievances for many years are the main source of the frustration of the Palestinian people,” said the Irish envoy.

US ambassador Greenfield told both sides that now was the time to end this “cycle of violence, halt rocket attacks and ongoing inter-communal violence in Israel. She also called for ending evictions, illegal settlements, including from Jerusalem. She said the ongoing violence would hurt the talks for a two-state solution.

Ms Greenfield spoke of a future when Israel and Palestinian states could live “side by side in peace, within internationally recognised borders”. “We need to do everything we can for the day when Israelis and Palestinians can live in peace and dignity.”

The Russian representative said the main cause of this new escalation was the absence of a negotiation process on all fundamental issues. “We condemn attempts to change the historic and territorial status of the region,” he said.

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After two decades of U.S. warfare in Afghanistan, President Joe Biden has announced the date for the withdrawal of U.S. troops and ends the longest war. According to him, the United States wills withdrawal its entire military forces from Afghanistan military bases by 9/11/2021.

Many Afghanistan politicians do not believe that the U.S. withdraws all of its troops because the central government of Afghanistan does not have adequate preparation after the U.S. withdrawal situation. 

However, in this article, I will explore the thinkable scenarios in Afghanistan after the U.S. troop’s withdrawal?  In this study, I will focus on some possible situations in Afghanistan.

First, achieving peace and construction of Afghanistan National Unity Government (ANUG) is the first possible option post-exit of U.S., Now that foreigners have announced they have left the country, there is no reason for conflict. Such a situation will achieve long peace and stability in Afghanistan and the region; this option needs a comprehensive peace, including internal and external players involved in the coming peace process. 

I look forward to how the Afghan government maintains the balance of power between the Taliban and other political parties; this is very crucial because the imbalance drawback to the collapse of government and Afghanistan will plunge into civil war as we experienced during the Najibullah government as well.

In the external arena, the most affirmative scenario is the situation for the regional country will not be worse. The U.S. will continue its support to the Kabul government in the post-exit era. The external stakeholders, particularly China and Russia, are interested in stability and durable peace in Afghanistan through cooperation with the other regional states (Pakistan, India, Iran, and Turkey). The resolution of the Afghanistan issue will guarantee the security of South and Central Asia its vital for China and Russia because of the core threats to China and Russia from Afghanistan terrorist groups activities, its danger for the U.S. as well.

Another significant reason is that Afghanistan is the gateway to the Central Asian States with potentially untapped energy resources. The regional Actors want direct access through Afghanistan to these natural resources to meet their dire energy demands. Because of American military presence in the region, the regional countries, particularly Iran, Pakistan, China, and Russia, felt threatened. They began to oppose and protect their interests connected with Afghanistan’s peace and security. The notion is that, in the prolonged presence of the United States, these states that have economic and security interests in Afghanistan would be in danger.

China and Afghanistan have several ongoing projects underway, and different transnational actors have sabotaged these projects on several occasions. Likewise, Pakistan has a direct border link with Afghanistan, has several stakes in Afghanistan, and needs access to Central Asia. Pakistan also has concerns about the presence of America. It has also made strong connections with China so that mutual interests could be met by joining hands together.

Similarly, Iran and Russia being strategic partnerships have profound political and economic interests in Afghanistan and arch-rivals of the United States. Both countries have to oppose the actions of the United States and a potential threat for both country’s interests in the Afghan mainland and Central Asia. It means the diverging interests in Afghanistan of regional and American interests, politico-military outcomes would in the long term seem not conducive for lasting peace in Afghanistan unless these could have a political consensus on the said diverging interests vis-à-vis Afghanistan internal reconciliation.

If all stakeholders involving in the Istanbul negotiation, they could form an ANUG that all have so far required. Agree, this will be the best option to end the war, and such a government will be bringing peace and stability in Afghanistan and the region.

Second, maintain the status quo: U.S. President announced the date of the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan, reminding that the United States continued its assistance, exceptionally provide large military and financial aid to Afghanistan.

It is unclear whether such a promise will be fulfilled; if the U.S. keeps its support, particularly military and financial assistance to Kabul, the Afghan security forces have enough power to maintain the status quo after the U.S. exit. In this case, if the peace talks in the Istanbul conference fail, the Kabul government will survive. 

The Afghanistan national army will able to fight against the Taliban and other terrorist groups. Let us remember that Dr. Najib’s government was still strong in terms of power, defense. Still, the main reason was led to his government downfall are the imbalance between internal control and ethnic divisions. Regarding imbalance, we can see the role of General Dostum. In the beginning, he was a core ally with Najib when he turned to the North alliance because he did not see himself in the power position.

The ongoing situations in Afghanistan are similar; the statement should focus on the role of warlords and political parties to maintain the inter balance this significant for the central government to survive. On the other hands, the economic and military support for the Afghanistan government crucial because without external support Afghanistan government cannot survive; if the necessary financial resources for security are not available from external donors at the same times in the government of the internal situation have many challenges such as insurgency, terrorist, ethnicity, corruption, and warlords. The current conditions Afghanistan faces the external and internal threat; the Afghanistan government need to deal with it.

In this situation how the Ghani will deal with post-U.S. withdrawal, he has two choices two survive the first; he imbalance with China and Russia because china can help Afghanistan financially and play a significant role to force Pakistan and Taliban as well, this choice very dangerous if he fails cannot survive if he succeeds he will be overcome both threats. The second is to keep its alliance with the U.S. this situation will maintain the status quo but not bring durable peace and stability in Afghanistan.          

Third, the collapse of government and going to civil war:  after two decades of war, the U.S. shortcut way to bring peace in Afghanistan. Washington tries to face save from withdrawal of Afghanistan. The U.S., represent Khalilzad, has provided a draft Afghanistan Peace Agreement to the Kabul government and Taliban. The core idea is to replace the elected Afghan government with a transnational one that may occur, including Taliban and negotiation between the parties for a future permanent system. 

At the same time, president Ghani receives a letter from U.S. Secretary of state Blinken saying it was “urgent” to “accelerate peace talks” and move “quickly toward a settlement.” The letter also has asked Turkey to host a high-level meeting between the Afghan sides “in the coming weeks to finalize a peace agreement.” Suppose the government is to think of independent defense. The Istanbul conference is a good opportunity for the Taliban and Kabul governments to achieve peace; otherwise, the situation will be worse. The current situations are an important opportunity for all different parties, ideologies, groups, and ethnic groups have come together.

The unification and arrangement of these products is a complex and arduous task and requires compassion and sacrifice. On the other hand, if the Kabul government delays the negation to remain in power and the Taliban also holds up to returning to power by force, this condition will disintegrate because the ethnic, linguistic, religious, and other divisions turn into armed conflict. In the worst-case scenario, then the 1990s, conflict and war and killing will be restarted, and Afghanistan situations will be worse than Iraq and Syria. In conclusion, this paper argues the future situations of Afghanistan after the U.S. force withdrawal from Afghanistan.

During the history of Afghanistan’s statement constantly losing in the diplomatic arena in this crucial moment, how the Ghani governments deal with internal and external issues? All Afghanistan people wish the politicians can play a good role and end the forty-year war and move towards prosperity and stability. If the intra-afghan dialog fails, keep the status quo is also good, at least worse government better than no government, for the benefit of the people and the inhabitants of the big cities, as far as it is acceptable.

It is like being delivered in an explosion and suicide attack in these twenty years, and so on. But if we go to the civil war and ethnic conflict and alley to alley, people will forget the previous civil war. I hope that will not happen. People are starving for peace and stability. It would be suitable for political leaders to abandon their interests, focus on the national interest, and move toward a peaceful and prosperous Afghanistan.

Written by: Hameedullah Nasrat, PhD Scholar, School of International and Public Affairs, Jilin University China.

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GAZA CITY, MAY 16: Israel bombed the home of Hamas's chief in Gaza early on Sunday and sirens warning of rocket attacks sounded in Israeli border towns shortly after dawn as hostilities stretched into a seventh day with no sign of abating.

At least 153 people have been killed in Gaza since Monday, including 42 children, health officials said. Israel has reported 10 dead, including two children.

The United Nations Security Council was due to meet later on Sunday to discuss the worst outbreak of Israeli-Palestinian violence in years.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres reminded all sides “that any indiscriminate targeting of civilian and media structures violates international law and must be avoided at all costs”, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement on Saturday.

Both Israel and Hamas, the Islamist group that runs the enclave, insisted they would continue their cross-border fire after Israel destroyed a 12-storey building in Gaza City that housed the US Associated Press and Qatar-based Al Jazeera media operations.

The Israel military said the al-Jala building was a legitimate military target, containing Hamas military offices, and that it had given advance warnings to civilians to get out of the building.

The AP condemned the attack, and asked Israel to put forward evidence. “We have had no indication Hamas was in the building or active in the building,” it said in a statement.

In what Hamas called a reprisal for Israel's destruction of the al-Jala building, Hamas fired 120 rockets overnight, the Israeli military said, with many intercepted and around a dozen falling short and landing in Gaza.

Israelis dashed for bomb shelters as sirens warning of incoming rocket fire blared in Tel Aviv and the southern city of Beersheba. Around 10 people were injured while running for shelters, medics said.

In a burst of air strikes early on Sunday, the Israeli military said it struck the home of Yehya Al-Sinwar in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis. Sinwar, who was released from an Israeli prison in 2011, heads the political and military wings of Hamas in Gaza.

Another air strike killed a Gaza neurologist and wounded his wife and daughter, Palestinian medics and relatives said.

Israel's security cabinet was due to meet early Sunday to discuss the hostilities. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a televised address late on Saturday that Israel was “still in the midst of this operation, it is still not over and this operation will continue as long as necessary”.

Al-Aqsa

Hamas began its rocket assault on Monday after weeks of tensions over a court case to evict several Palestinian families in East Jerusalem, and in retaliation for Israeli police's attacks on Palestinians near the city's Al-Aqsa Mosque, Islam's third-holiest site, during the holy month of Ramazan.

Speaking to crowds of protesters in the Qatari capital of Doha, Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh said late on Saturday that the underlying cause of the hostilities was Jerusalem.

“The Zionists thought ... they could demolish Al-Aqsa Mosque. They thought they could displace our people in Sheikh Jarrah,” Haniyeh said.

“I say to Netanyahu: do not play with fire,” he continued, amid cheers from the crowd. “The title of this battle today, the title of the war, and the title of the intifada, is Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Jerusalem,” using the Arabic word for 'uprising'.

Israel claims all of Jerusalem as its capital, a status not generally recognised internationally.

Palestinians want East Jerusalem — captured by Israel in the 1967 Arab-Israeli war — as the capital of a future state.

Hamas, Islamic Jihad and other militant groups have fired more than 2,000 rockets from Gaza since Monday, the Israeli military said on Saturday.

Israel has launched more than 1,000 air and artillery strikes into the densely populated coastal strip, saying they were aimed at Hamas and other militant targets.

War crimes

Earlier this week, the International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, told Reuters the court was “monitoring very closely” the latest hostilities, amid an investigation now underway into alleged war crimes in earlier bouts of the conflict.

Netanyahu accused Hamas of “committing a double war crime” by targeting civilians, and using Palestinian civilians as “human shields”.

There has been a flurry of US diplomacy in recent days to try to quell the violence.

President Joe Biden's envoy, Hady Amr, arrived in Israel on Friday for talks. Biden spoke with both Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas late on Saturday, the White House said.

But any mediation is complicated by the fact that the United States and most Western powers do not talk to Hamas, which they regard as a terrorist organisation.

In Israel, the conflict has been accompanied by violence among the country's mixed communities of Jews and Arabs, with synagogues attacked and Arab-owned shops vandalised.

There has also been an upsurge in deadly clashes in the occupied West Bank. At least 12 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli troops in the West Bank since Friday, most of them during clashes.

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LAHORE, MAY 15: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is currently facing a difficult situation to organise the remaining matches of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2021.

The sixth edition of Pakistan’s premier T20 competition was postponed indefinitely in early March due to a coronavirus outbreak which left as many as seven players and staff members tested positive for the pathogen.

It was announced later the remaining matches will be organised in Karachi from the first to the 20th of June, 2021.

However, with the latest coronavirus surge in the country, the board agreed with the suggestion of the franchises to move the tournament to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

As per Cricket Pakistan, the PCB delegation is currently visiting the Middle Eastern country in order to get approval from the authorities to organise PSL 2021.

The report stated that if the board fail to get the approval by May 16, they will have no other option but to look for an alternative and Karachi might still host the remaining matches.

It is pertinent to mention here that the UAE has already placed Pakistan in the list of countries on their red list due to the Covid-19 situation and every person who travels from here will have to quarantine for 10 days.

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THIS VIDEO MELTED MILLIONS OF HEARTS: World must take notice of the injustice & atrocities that Palestinians are facing...!!!

A well known Research Analyst - Social Media Activist - Influencer - Digital Marketer, Huda Naveed has said this breaks my heart and The world must take notice Of the injustice & atrocities

That Palestinians are facing...!!!

#PalestineBleeding #PalestinianLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/dllYGKXjJa

Courtesy — Huda Naveed (@Huda_Nav) May 14, 2021 

ISLAMABAD, MAY 14: All Muslims countries must wake up and take serious and sincere steps to help the Muslims brothers and sisters in Palestine.

This is the responsibility of all the Muslims countries to stop Israel attacking people in Palestine.

People of all ages are in trouble and their lives are at risk, Living conditions are not comfortable in Palestine.

#Muslim#countries#must#do#something#now#to#save#Palestinians

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MADRID, MAY 14: Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane believes that his team is very much in the title race after they managed to keep the pressure on Atletico Madrid by thrashing Granada 4-1 on Thursday to reduce the gap to two points at the top of La Liga, with two games left to play.

A draw or defeat for Real Madrid would have given Atletico the chance to win the title on Sunday by beating Osasuna but goals from Luka Modric, Rodrygo, Alvaro Odriozola and Karim Benzema secured a comfortable victory at Los Carmenes.

Atletico could still be crowned champions this weekend if they overcome Osasuna and Real Madrid fail to win away at Athletic Bilbao but the Spanish title race has been full of surprises and still nothing is guaranteed.

“We’re still in it,” said Real coach Zinedine Zidane. “There are two games left, we have to deliver and today we delivered.”

Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois agreed with the manager saying: “We can only keep putting pressure on Atletico and hope they don’t win both of their games. We are close, there is no margin for error.”

Even third-placed Barcelona are still in the running, even if Tuesday’s 3-3 draw away at Levante leaves them needing an incredible swing of results if they are to overturn a four-point deficit in two games.

The theme of Real Madrid’s challenge in recent weeks has been survival, their squad stretched to its limits by injuries and absentees but a particularly youthful team produced a vibrant display to see off a Granada side that earlier this month beat Barca at Camp Nou.

Zidane started three 20-year-olds and a 19-year-old in what was arguably, given the stakes, the club’s most important league game of the season and his youngsters delivered.

The 19-year-old Miguel Gutierrez started at right back and gave a spectacular assist for Modric’s opener while the 20-year-old Marvin Park played at left back and made the recovery that led to the 20-year-old Rodrygo adding a second.

Zidane has been as loyal as ever to his ageing core this season but necessity has forced him to turn to look elsewhere and it remains to be seen whether he shows more trust in the likes of Miguel and Marvin in future.

“They did well from the start,” said Zidane. “They want to play, they want to show their quality and that’s what they’ve done.”

The veterans delivered again too, the 35-year-old Modric adding a goal to another instrumental performance, in what was his 55th appearance of the season.

Benzema scored his 29th goal of the campaign and 22nd in La Liga, which leaves him two short of his record.

Madrid were excellent in the first half and took the lead in the 17th minute when Miguel cut in the from left and scooped a superb pass into the path of Modric, who held off Domingos Duarte and fired in at the near post.

Rodrygo added a second just before half-time, profiting after Marvin had freed him with a sliding challenge near the half-way line. Rodrygo advanced into the penalty area and drove into the far corner.

Madrid’s dominance faded after the break and Granada briefly threatened a comeback, a long ball forward not dealt with by Eder Militao, giving Luis Suarez the chance to shoot and Jorge Molina to tap in the rebound.

But the tension was never really allowed to build because four minutes later, Madrid made it three.

Eden Hazard, on off the bench, miscontrolled Modric’s pass but recovered with an impressive pull-back for the arriving Odriozola to finish.

Thirty seconds after Granada kicked off, they conceded a fourth, their goalkeeper Rui Silva making a mess of Casemiro’s launched pass forward, with the ball spilling out to Benzema, who had an open net.

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RAWALPINDI, MAY 13: Airport authorities have agreed to use sniffer dogs to identify Covid-19-infected inbound travelers at Islamabad International Airport.

A senior airport official told Dawn that well-trained sniffer dogs will detect the virus among the travellers smelling the odors generated by infected people.

Sniffer dogs can be used as a secondary screening tool for detecting Covid-19 infection, he said.

A team of experts have already visited the airport and selected the site to deploy the sniffer dogs.

Earlier, the health authorities in collaboration with the Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) has been using thermal scanners and Rapid Antigen tests to detect the infected travelers at the airport to contain the covid-19 pandemic.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority has allowed the airlines to operate 30pc of their flights for travelers.

The additional 30pc operations will be with incoming flights ferry/cargo and outgoing persons only.

However, the existing 20pc is for both arrival and departure. The airline’s operations with 20 per cent flights had been from May 5 to 20, 2021.

The CAA has sought flight schedules from all airlines of extra flights which are effective tentatively from May 18.

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GAZA, MAY 14: Israel bombarded Gaza with artillery and air strikes on Friday in response to a new barrage of rocket fire from the Hamas-run enclave, in an intensification of a conflict that has now claimed more than 100 Palestinian lives.

Days of deadly violence have seen Israeli soldiers massing on the edge of the territory, although the army stressed there had been no ground incursion despite an earlier statement that troops were carrying out an attack “in the Gaza Strip”.

Israeli security forces have also been scrambled to contain deadly riots between Jews and Arabs, and projectiles have been fired from Lebanon.

Images early Friday showed large balls of flame turning the night sky orange in densely packed Gaza, while rockets were seen tracing through the air towards Israel.

The United Nations said the Security Council would meet on Sunday to address the conflict as the world body's Secretary General called for “an immediate de-escalation and cessation of hostilities”. “Too many innocent civilians have already died,” Antonio Guterres tweeted.

“This conflict can only increase radicalisation and extremism in the whole region.”

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Washington was “deeply concerned about the violence in the streets of Israel”, and the State Department urged citizens to “reconsider travel to Israel”.

Several international airlines — including KLM, British Airways, Virgin, Lufthansa and Iberia — cancelled flights amid the aerial onslaught.

'Massive reinforcement'

Dozens of rockets were fired from Gaza towards the southern Israeli coastal cities of Ashdod and Ashkelon, and in the vicinity of Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion airport.

Israeli army spokesman John Conricus said the country was “prepared ... for various scenarios”, describing a ground offensive as “one scenario”.

In Gaza, AFP photographers said people were evacuating their homes in the northeastern part of the enclave ahead of possible Israeli attacks, with Hamas, the Islamist group that controls Gaza, warning of a “heavy response” to any ground incursion.

The Israeli army clarified early Friday that its troops had not entered the Gaza Strip as it had earlier indicated, blaming an “internal communication” problem for the confusion.

With the conflict showing no signs of easing, Israel has been rocked by an unprecedented wave of mob violence, in which both Arabs and Jews have been savagely beaten and police stations attacked.

Defence Minister Benny Gantz ordered a “massive reinforcement” to suppress the internal unrest.

The heavy bombardments coincided with the start of Eidul Fitr, which marks the end of the holy fasting month of Ramazan, and saw the faithful pray at mosques and amid the rubble of Gaza's collapsed buildings.

Israel's air force launched multiple air strikes, targeting locations linked to Hamas, with the air force saying jets had struck a “military compound” of the group's “intelligence headquarters”.

At least 103 people have been killed since Monday, including 27 children, and more than 580 wounded, the health ministry in Gaza said.

Heavy bombardments have brought down entire tower blocks.

Inside Israel, seven people have been killed since Monday, including one six-year-old, after a rocket struck a family home.

'Preventing pogroms'

The Israeli military said it had hit targets in Gaza more than 600 times while 1,750 rockets were fired from the enclave.

Hundreds of rockets were intercepted by the Iron Dome air defence system.

Three rockets were also fired from southern Lebanon towards Israel, landing in the Mediterranean Sea, Israel's army said.

A source close to Israel's arch-enemy Hezbollah said the Lebanese Shia group had no link to the incident.

The military escalation was triggered by weekend unrest at Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa mosque compound, which is sacred to both Muslims and Jews.

The disturbances, in which Israeli riot police had repeatedly targeted Palestinians, have been driven by anger over the looming evictions of Palestinian families from the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood of east Jerusalem.

The surging tensions sparked clashes in many of Israel's mixed towns where Jews live alongside Arabs, who make up about 20 per cent of the country's population.

Nearly 1,000 border police were called in to quell the violence, and more than 400 people were arrested.

Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said inter-communal violence in multiple towns was at a level not seen for decades, and that police were “literally preventing pogroms”.

'Two-front battle'

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said police were increasing their use of force, warning of the “option” of deploying soldiers in towns.

Israeli far-right groups have clashed with security forces and Arab Israelis, with television footage on Wednesday showing a far-right mob beating a man they considered an Arab in Bat Yam, near Tel Aviv, leaving him with serious injuries.

In Lod, which has become a flashpoint of Arab-Jewish clashes this week with an Arab resident shot dead and a synagogue torched, a gunman opened fire on Thursday at a group of Jews, wounding one. Netanyahu said the violence was “unacceptable”.

“Nothing justifies the lynching of Arabs by Jews, and nothing justifies the lynching of Jews by Arabs,” he said, adding Israel was fighting a battle “on two fronts”.

Amid the rocket fire, Israel's civil aviation authority said it had diverted all incoming passenger flights headed for Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion airport to Ramon airport in the south.

Hamas announced it had also fired a rocket at Ramon in a bid to stop air traffic to Israel.

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Zamir Ahmed Awan

The situation in the Middle East is changing rapidly. The recent unrest in Israel is growing like fire and entering into a dangerous zone. The clashes between armed police and helpless Palestinians are witnessed everywhere. Here are signs of full-scale war, which may engulf some of the neighboring or regional countries.

Iran-Israel tension has reached a full-fledged war-like situation. It has crossed the limit of verbal threats and warnings, but practical attacks were also seen in recent days. Looking at the magnitude of their weapons and intensity of rivalry, one can predict a disastrous conflict.

However, the US has shown flexibility toward Iran for the nuclear deal but with strict conditions. It is still appreciated that the President Joe Biden Administration has considered the settlement of disputes with Iran. Iran is also willing to reach such a nuclear deal where sanctions would be removed, and its frozen assets may be returned back to Iran immediately, and trade sanctions may be removed. Itan’s ailing economy is under immense pressure due to irrational sanctions. There is a ray of hope.

Houthis in Yemen are getting stubborn and refused to attend the UN meeting, Which might complicate the Saudi-Yeman conflict further. The UN was trying to find a solution to end the ongoing war.

The situation in Lebanon is also not good; especially, the economic crisis seems more dangerous. On the political front, the power struggle and French interference are worsening the situation further. Lebanon might be a small country, but its geostrategic location is vital for peace in the whole region.

The direct contact between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Iran was a big surprise, and promptly opening up of diplomatic missions is encouraging. In fact, both are Muslim nations and sharing many things in common; It was the interest of the US to sell expensive weapons to the Oil-Rich Arab States, that is why they used Wester bais media to create tension between Arabs and Iran. President Trump was openly admitting that his friendship with Saudi Arabia was for selling more arms and weapons to support the rapidly falling economy of the US.

Turkey and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have also come close to each other and trying to overcome differences amicably. Turkey has huge potential to stabilize the whole region and promote developments. There exist historical, cultural, religious, and political relations between the two Muslim countries. There are more things in common than differences.

Egypt and Turkey are also in contact, which will smooth the ways of peace and stability in Libya too. Both countries are important states in the region, and cooperation among them will positively impact the region.

Qatar may be a small state but politically very active in the region. Qatar is a state, who hosted the Afghan Peace talks between Taliba and the US directly. Qatar’s balanced foreign policies are playing a significant role in bringing the regional countries closer.

Pakistan is the only nuclear power in the Muslim world with a powerful army. Pakistan’s visionary leadership is very active for peace and stability in the whole region and globally. Pakistan is playing a pivotal role in the peace process in Afghanistan. Earlier, the Pakistani Prime Minister visited Riyadh and Tehran to bring two Muslim brothers closer.

Pakistan was silently playing diplomacy to defuse tension among the Muslim world and regional countries. It is a well-stated policy of Pakistan that we are partner with anyone anywhere any time for “Peace,” and we are not partner with anyone, anywhere or any time in the wars, aggressions, destructions, killings, etc. Pakistan is a peace-loving nation genetically and wanted to promote peace globally.

It is the first time when Prime Minister of Israel Netanyahu contacted President Putin, after desperate from the cold response from President Joe Biden. He might be facing severe challenges domestically and may not be able to keep his position within his own party or among the masses.

With this scenario, Russia has space to play a leading role in bringing peace, stability, and developments in the whole region. The Muslim world was victimized by the Western World (The US, NATO, and Allies) for almost a couple of decades. Millions of Muslims were killed, millions were made homeless, millions were forced to move into refugee camps either in their own countries or migrate to other countries.

The Infrastructure was damaged, agriculture & crops were destroyed, Business was ruined, the economy was damaged, civic life was damaged, the social structure was damaged, and etc. There exist anti-America solid sentiments all over the Muslim world. At the same time, many of them are looking toward Russia, including the State of Israel. Let Russia avail of this opportunity and extend its leadership role.

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COURTESY geopolitica.ru

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ISLAMABAD, MAY 13: Federal Minister for Information & Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry called on Ahmed Rabaie, Palestinian Ambassador to Pakistan on Thursday.

Ambassador Ahmed Rabaie received the Federal Minister for Information & Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry upon his arrival at the Palestine Embassy.

During the meeting the Federal Minister Fawad Chaudhry expressed solidarity whit the Palestinian people against the heinous actions of the Israeli occupation against the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque and the inhumane actions.

The GoP will continue to support the people of Palestine at all political and diplomatic fora. The entire Pakistani nation stands by its Muslim brethren in Palestine.

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CAIRO, MAY 13: Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov agreed Thursday that Israel needs to stop attacks on the Gaza Strip.

In a phone call, the two top diplomats reiterated that Israel should stop the bloodshed, according to a statement issued by the Egyptian Foreign Ministry.

Ongoing Israeli attacks on Gaza have killed 83 Palestinians and injured 487 others, the Palestinian Health Ministry said.

Tensions have been running high since an Israeli court last week ordered the eviction of Palestinian families from the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of East Jerusalem.

Israel occupied East Jerusalem during the 1967 Arab-Israeli war and annexed the entire city in 1980, in a move that has never been recognized by the international community.

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COURTESY Anews

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